Into the Story: True Stories, Better Communication

Christie was on tour as a professional dancer when unexpected turns teach her about strength and confidence, even when things get difficult. Level: upper intermediate  Accent: Canadian 🚐 Ready to take your English further? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOR FULL EPISODE PACKAGE⁠ with vocabulary, test, and transcript! 5 words and expressions in today's story: - BREAD AND BUTTER: Someone's main job or main source of income. Examples: "For many musicians, playing concerts is their bread and butter." or "Writing is her bread and butter; it pays all her bills." - OUT OF THE BLUE: Something happens suddenly and unexpectedly. Examples: "I was walking home, and out of the blue, it started raining heavily." or "He received a phone call out of the blue from an old friend." - BUMP UP: This phrasal verb means to upgrade or move to a higher position or level. Examples: "She was bumped up to a manager position at work." or "The airline bumped up her seat to business class for free." - LONG STORY SHORT: To explain only the most important parts of a story, leaving out unnecessary details. Examples: "The car broke down, we missed the event, and long story short, it was a terrible day." or "Long story short, we decided to move to a new city after many discussions." - TO BURN OUT: This phrasal verb can mean two things: (1) When a fire stops burning because there is no more fuel. Example: "The campfire burned out after we ran out of wood." (2) When a person becomes very tired and can't continue because they have worked too hard. Example: "The campfire burned out after we ran out of wood." or "After working nonstop for months, he finally burned out and needed a vacation." Episode Links: - To find out more about Christie Cunningham, visit her website 💛 Want more from Into the Story? Subscribe to our⁠ ⁠free newsletter⁠⁠ to get a quick email from Bree every few weeks filled with practical tips, fascinating topics from the world of psychology, and strategies to improve your life

Join Thomas Zachariassen, an experienced ultramarathon runner, as he shares the challenges of race day, pushing oneself in training, trusting gut feelings, and the relief of crossing the finish line. Explore the mindset of ultramarathon runners and the mental and physical hurdles they overcome.

Jaclyn tells the story of a paragliding accident and its emotional impact on her life. Level: upper intermediate  Accent: Canadian 🚐 Ready to take your English further? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOR FULL EPISODE PACKAGE⁠ with vocabulary, test, transcript and much more! 5 words and expressions in today's story: - TO END UP: To arrive at a particular place or find yourself in a situation, often unintended. Examples: "After getting lost, we ended up at a beautiful beach." or "She ended up working late because of the unexpected project." - TO LIFT OFF: To take off, especially for rockets or planes, launching in a vertical direction. Examples: "The rocket lifted off successfully, heading towards space." or "The helicopter lifted off from the helipad." - TO GLIDE: To fly smoothly through the air in a continuous motion. Examples: "The bird glided effortlessly across the sky." or "The paraglider glided down to the landing point." - SLOPE: A surface with one side higher than the other; can also be used as a verb to describe something inclining. Examples: "The children enjoyed sledding down the snowy slope." or "The path slopes gently towards the river." - TO FIT IN: To be comfortable with a group of people or to have enough space for something. Examples: "She fit in well with her new colleagues at work." or "The couch didn’t fit in the small living room, so they had to move it to another room." 💛 Want more from Into the Story? Subscribe to our free newsletter to get a quick email from Bree every few weeks filled with practical tips, fascinating topics from the world of psychology, and strategies to improve your life. 👉 Tell me about yourself! ​​Fill out this 3–5 minute survey and get a chance to win a 30-minute speaking coaching session with me.

Twice in her life has Brigitte felt alone and lost, and both times she decided to search for the northern lights.  Level: Intermediate  Accent: Canadian (Quebec) 🚐 Do you want to get much further? CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOR FULL EPISODE PACKAGE⁠⁠ with vocabulary, test, transcript and more! 5 words and expressions in today's story: - UPROOT: to pull something—especially a tree or plant—out of the ground.  Examples: "The strong winds uprooted the old tree." or "They had to uproot the weeds from the garden." Metaphorically: to move (someone) from their home or a familiar location. Examples: "His family was uprooted when they moved to a new city." or "The war uprooted many families from their homes." - OUTGOING: Friendly and socially confident. Examples: "She is very outgoing and makes friends easily." or "His outgoing personality makes him popular at parties." - FIRST NATIONS: Indigenous peoples that are the original inhabitants of the land that is now Canada. Examples: "First Nations have a rich cultural heritage and history." or "The government works with First Nations to preserve their traditions."  - PITCH-BLACK: Completely dark. Examples: "The night was pitch-black without any stars." or "The power outage left the house in pitch-black darkness." - STAY PUT: To not move or go anywhere. Examples: "She told the dog to stay put while she answered the door." or "During the storm, we decided to stay put at home." - DIM: Not shining brightly or clearly. Examples: "The room was lit by a dim lamp." or "The dim light made it hard to read." Episode Links:  - Find out more about Brigitte at The Story Warrior 💛 Want more from Into the Story? Subscribe to our ⁠free newsletter⁠ to get a quick email from Bree every few weeks filled with practical tips, fascinating topics from the world of psychology, and strategies to improve your life. 👉 Tell me about yourself! ​​Fill out this ⁠3–5 minute survey⁠ and get a chance to win a 30-minute speaking coaching session with me.

An adventurous caver, Scott Brandon, shares his experience of getting stuck in a dark cave and using his imagination to find a way out. The podcast explores caving vocabulary, the importance of remaining calm in challenging situations, and the power of creativity and innovation in problem-solving.

Former NASA employee, Tiffani Claiborne, shares her journey of leaving NASA to explore a new path, facing personal challenges, and embracing new expressions. She discusses the importance of understanding the purpose behind one's work, her passion for web design, and overcoming academic challenges through perseverance and emotional growth.

When Martin becomes a dad, he realizes how difficult it is when we can’t be with the ones we love.   Level: Upper Intermediate Accent: United Kingdom (Essex) 🚐 Ready to take your English further? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOR FULL EPISODE PACKAGE⁠ with full vocabulary list, transcript, test, and much more! 5 words and expressions in today's story: -TO SHOVE: To push someone or something roughly or with force, often with the intention of moving someone or something out of the way. For example, "She accidentally shoved her friend while rushing to catch the bus, causing them to stumble," or "He shoved his passport in his pocket before getting on the plane." -TO BE OVER THE MOON: To be extremely happy or thrilled about something. For example, "She was over the moon when she found out she got the job she had been dreaming of," or "He was over the moon with joy when he received the surprise birthday party his friends had organized for him." -A PRAM: A stroller or baby carriage used for transporting infants. For example, "She took her baby for a walk in the pram," or "The pram was equipped with a comfortable seat and a protective canopy." -OBVIOUSLY (FILLER WORD): similar to saying "it's clear" or "you see" to show something is easy to understand. It's added to sentences to make a point stronger or emphasize that something should be clear. But it doesn't always change what's being said; it just helps the speaker highlight their viewpoint or understanding of the situation. -FULL ON (ADJECTIVE): Intense or extreme in nature. For example, "The party was full on, with loud music and dancing all night," or "He experienced a full-on adrenaline rush while participating in the extreme sports event." Episode Links:  - Listen to Martin’s podcast Rock n’ Roll English Enjoyed today's episode? Share it with a friend improving their English! Thanks for being a part of our community. 💛

Gloudina goes to Ecuador to volunteer with a wildlife veterinarian and ends up learning an important lesson from children in the Amazon. Level: Upper Intermediate Accent: South Africa 🚐 Ready to take your English further? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOR FULL EPISODE PACKAGE⁠ with vocabulary, test, and transcript! 5 words and expressions in today's story: - WILDLIFE: Animals and plants that live and grow in natural environments. Examples: "The national park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including bears, deer, and birds." or "Conservation efforts aim to protect wildlife and their natural habitats." - CABIN/HUT: Small, simple dwellings or houses typically located in rural or wilderness areas. Examples: "They rented a cozy cabin in the mountains for their weekend getaway." or "The forest ranger stayed in a rustic hut deep in the woods during his patrols." - CHECKUP: A routine health examination. Examples: "The doctor recommended an annual checkup to monitor her blood pressure and cholesterol levels." or "After the accident, he underwent a thorough checkup to ensure there were no internal injuries." - ENDANGERED SPECIES: Species at risk of extinction. Examples: "Efforts to save the sea turtle focus on protecting nesting sites and reducing bycatch in fishing nets." or "The black rhinoceros is endangered due to poaching and habitat loss." - TO CLEAR YOUR MIND: Removing thoughts or worries to achieve calmness. Examples: "Yoga and meditation help him clear his mind and reduce stress after a long day." or "Taking a walk in nature allows her to clear her mind and gain perspective on her problems." Episode Links:  - Visit Gloudina’s website Wildme.eu and use the code INTOWILDME100 to download one of her digital guides for free Enjoyed today's episode? Share it with a friend, improving their English! Thanks for being a part of our community. 💛

Anna Tyrie, a musician who struggled with feeling inadequate, shares her journey of overcoming imposter syndrome to attend a prestigious music school. She reflects on her passion for performance, unexpected offer from the Royal Academy of Music, and a transformative performance at the Royal Albert Hall with Sir Elton John.

When Lindsay McMahon was backpacking alone in Southeast Asia, an injury teaches her an important lesson about living a good life. Level: Upper Intermediate Accent: United States (New Hampshire) 🚐 Ready to take your English further? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOR FULL EPISODE PACKAGE⁠ with vocabulary, test, transcript and much more! 5 words and expressions in today's story: - TO BE WINDY (A WINDY ROAD): A road with lots of twists and turns. Examples: "The road to the cabin is windy and hard to drive." or "Be careful on the windy road; it can be dangerous." - A MUFFLER: The tube that comes out the back of a car that makes it quieter. Examples: "The mechanic replaced the muffler on my car." or "The teenager took the muffler off his motorbike, to make it very loud." - TO DOWNPLAY SOMETHING: To make something seem less important or serious. Examples: "After her basketball team lost the match, she tried to downplay the defeat by saying it wasn’t an important game" or "Even though the project faced significant challenges, she downplayed the difficulties, emphasizing the progress made." - TO BE MAKESHIFT: Something that's put together quickly with whatever's available. Examples: "The kids used a cardboard box as a makeshift table." or "He made a makeshift umbrella out of a plastic bag so that he wouldn’t get wet in the rain." - TO HAVE A WIN: To succeed or accomplish something you were hoping for. Examples: "This week, I finally had a win: normally I procrastinate editing podcasts, but this time I finished the episode earlier than expected." or "When the young student won the spelling contest, it was a big win. It made her feel more sure of herself." Episode Links:  - Listen to Lindsay’s podcast, All Ears English - Listen to Bree explain the connection between emotions and fluency on All Ears English (available March 2024) Enjoyed today's episode? Share it with a friend improving their English! Thanks for being a part of our community. 💛